WELCOME NEW ALUMNI COUNCIL MEMBERS
MARION FONG joins the Council as a liaison to parents of alumni. Marion’s three children all attended Chandler – Erin ’07, Tyler ’10 and Caitlin ’15. She says, “Nelson and I are thankful for the friends we made and the educational foundation our children received while at Chandler. Friends from Chandler continue to be a part of our daily lives and we are grateful for that.” Marion was a partner in the real estate consulting practice of Ernst & Young Kenneth Leventhal prior to founding Mariposa Real Estate Advisors in 2003.
ALUMNI COUNCIL MEMBERS 2015-2016 Joyce Mitamura ’80, President Lauren Craig Albrecht ’85 Brecken Armstrong-Kelsey ’91 Lisa Curry Austin ’74 CHS ’78 John Berger ’88 Marion Fong, Past Parent Liaison David Gerst ’86 Erin Kaneko ’96 Ashley Laird, Faculty Liaison Catherine Pearson ’09 Joyce Wang Sakonju ’87 Peter Stavropoulos ’82 Amit Sura ’96 Chris Waldheim ’81, Trustee Liaison Panney Wei ’88 Travis Young ’96 Casey Zuber ’00
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CHANDLER Shamrock Magazine
ASHLEY PAYNE LAIRD
just celebrated her 20th year teaching at Chandler School. She appreciates that she found her calling right after college - teaching middle school English. Though her curriculum and methods have changed, she loves middle schoolers and English more than ever. She feels honored to have celebrated her former students’ weddings, babies, and new jobs with them as they have grown into adults. Ashley is mother to two boys, Baker (seven and a second grader) and Harper (five and a kindergartener) who both attend Chandler. Ashley and her family enjoy camping, hiking and being outdoors. She coaches soccer at Chandler and now coaches her sons’ soccer teams as well. Ashley enjoys connecting with alumni on the Council as faculty liaison and looks forward to bringing back more alumni to see how Chandler has changed, but in so many ways has stayed the same.
CATHERINE PEARSON ’09
is an alumna of Chandler and an employee. She works as a teaching assistant in the Lower School during the school year and as the Summer@Chandler photographer during the summer. Catherine says, “Chandler was a second home for my siblings and me. We couldn’t wait to run up the tower every morning to our friends and teachers. Now as an employee, it’s astonishing to be part of faculty meetings, discussions and workshops because as a student you don’t always see the hard work, time and effort the faculty and staff put in to make sure every student succeeds. Also, I was delighted when I was invited to join the Alumni Council. It has given me the opportunity to give back to Chandler even more.” Catherine is working on a degree in psychology with a minor in neuroscience. When she’s not at Chandler or studying, she enjoys photography, cooking, and playing with her two kittens.
PANNEY WEI ’88, C.HT.
is thrilled to join the Alumni Council. She has fond memories of Middle School, especially teachers like Mr. Hill who reminded her of the talents she uses in her life and work today. Panney is CEO of See the Way Consulting, a hypnotherapy, motivational speaking, and life-coaching practice providing private sessions and professional development training to individuals and Fortune 500 companies seeking to transform their lives and achieve personal and professional success. She hosts a podcast and radio show, See the Way with Panney Wei, currently streaming at www.panneywei.com and has appeared on radio shows and worked with TV networks. She appears in an upcoming documentary, Quantum Wisdom, as the host and a featured spiritual teacher. Panney is married to Endgame Entertainment Co-Founder and Executive Vice President Christopher Chen, and has a daughter, the other love of her life, Talia. Panney was nominated for the 2016 Asian Business Awards hosted by The Los Angeles Business Journal.
The Alumni Council provides leadership and defines strategies and direction for the Chandler School Alumni Association (CSAA) through Chandler’s traditions, mission and goals. The members help plan social events for the CSAA, serve as resources for the school and its students and assist in fundraising efforts, especially in annual giving directed to financial aid for current students. It is the goal of the council to foster a strong and positive relationship between the CSAA and the Chandler community.
If you are interested in becoming a council member, please contact Director of Alumni Relations and Major Gifts Jennifer Sells Johnson ’94 at alumni@chandlerschool.org